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Against Tony Blair, London 13 November

Dispatches program definitely worth a view…Thanks goes to Channel4 for making this documentary. Here is a summary:

Since resigning in June 2007, Tony Blair has financially enriched himself more than any previous ex-prime minister. Reporter Peter Oborne reveals some of the sources of his new-found wealth, much of which comes from the Middle East.

On the day Tony Blair resigned as Prime Minister, he was appointed the official representative Envoy of the Quartet on the Middle East. By January 2009 he had set up Tony Blair Associates – his international consultancy – which handles multi-million-pound contracts in the Middle East. It is so secretive we don’t know all the locations in which they do business.

Dispatches shows that at the same time as Blair is visiting Middle East leaders in his Quartet role he is receiving vast sums from some of them. If Blair represented the UK government, the EU, the IMF, the UN or the World Bank, this would not be permitted.

He would also have to declare his financial interests and be absolutely transparent about his financial dealings. But no such stringent rules govern the Quartet envoy.

However, he could opt to abide by the rules and principles of public life. They were introduced by John Major, and Tony Blair endorsed and strengthened them for all holders of public office – but chooses not to himself.

Peace activists, left politicians and academics have united to condemn a London university’s decision to invite former prime minister Tony Blair to speak at a “security and resilience” event next week.

The former PM is scheduled to give the keynote address at the inaugural conference of University College London‘s Institute for Security and Resilience Studies (ISRS), a body alleged to have close links to the arms industry, on Tuesday.

Also on the panel will be Education Secretary Michael Gove MP and former home secretary and arch-Blairite John Reid.

In an open letter sent to the college’s management this week, public figures including Tony Benn, John Pilger, Jeremy Corbyn MP and leading academics have called on the institution to withdraw the invitation, arguing that Blair is a war criminal and therefore not fit to address the event.

In the letter, which has been backed by thousands of campaigners, they said: “We note with great concern that you have invited former prime minister Tony Blair to speak at the inaugural conference of the Institute for Security and Resilience on November 13.

“Mr Blair took our country to war against Iraq in flagrant violation of the UN Charter and in doing so committed the international crime of aggression.